HEALTH ADVOCACY

VN's Health Advocate provides information about health problems seniors face and helpsseniors identify free or low-cost health resources. Without a person to encourage them, some seniors may avoid going to their doctors or not seek any necessary medical procedures. They may lack motivation or may be afraid of what the physician would say to them. They could also have difficulty getting to the doctor's office, or maybe financial concerns. Our Health Advocate "nudges our seniors to get their all important check-up or check out a symtom they would rather ignore.

Our health Advocate:

Prepares seniors for emergencies

Assesses their apartments for health and safety hazards

Recommends ways to eliminate those hazards

Offers information on preventing falls/injuries

Helps seniors communicate better with their doctors

Assists in navigating the often overwhelming helth care care system

If a senior who has no family or friends nearby is hospitalized, VN's Health Advocate will visit them there to reassure the senior and to let the hospital staff know that there is someone concerned for the senior's well-being.

OUR SOURCES OF FUNDING

Our programs and services are funded by a combination of individual donations, community and corporate support, grants form corporations and government funding. This purposeful blend of support enables us to respond to needs of seniors with greater flexibility than those programs that rely on a single funder, but it also makes de the job of raising enough money to improve and expand our programs a greater challenge.